Bonnet shield for valves or the like



March 13, 1956 GALLERY ErAL 2,737,972

BONNET SHIELD FOR VALVES OR THE LIKE Filed May 24, 1953 INVENTOR5 eoryel Kai/l zy Z7 flZwiza W22? Z ATTORNEY United States PatetitO 7 2,737,972 BONNET SHIELD FOR VALVES on THE LIKE George L. Callery, New Castle, Del., and Alonzo White III, Landenberg, Pa.

Application March 24, 1953, Serial No. 344,383 7 3 Claims. (Cl. 137-377 This invention relates -to a bonnet shield for valves or the like. 7

The invention is more particularly concerned with a shield of bonnet form adapted tocover the packing gland,

valve stem and bonnet flange of a valve structure for protecting personnel and equipment from leaks and blowouts of valve packing and bonnet flange gaskets. i

A primary object of the invention is to provide abonnet shield for the above noted purpose which is not only" it bonnet shield constructed of light gauge flexible material which provides for the lifting of sections thereof for ready access to valve parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the courseof the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the improved bonnet shield to a bonnet type valve. 7

Figure 2 is an axial vertical sectional view of the shield as observed in the plane of line 2*2'on Fig. 3.

Figure 3 is a topplan view ofthe improved shield. Figure 4 is anenlarged fragmental top plan showing sections of the two separable parts of the shield in separated relation. Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates the improved shield in its entirety. The shield comprises a pair of mating sections 11 and 12 generally semi-truncated conical form including a skirt portion 13 and a top generally horizontal portion 14 of a form slightly greater than a semicircle.

Each section 11, 12 is of the same dimensions, and the sections are readily reversible thereby materially expediting the manufacture thereof.

Each top portion 14 is provided with a valvestem receiving aperture 15, and the material of such portion is slit from the aperture to the free edge thereof, as indicated at 16. 1

By the provision of the aperture sections of equal dimensions can in Figs. 2 and 3, an aperture 15 plus the length of the with the lapped margins of the two sections being reversed at opposite sides of the axis of the shield with respect to the inner and outer walls thereof.

The lapped edges of the shield sections are provided with mating apertures 17 for removably receiving snap buttons 18 which are preferably of the same material 15'and slits 16 the two each of which is of be lapped, as indicated to an extent equal to the diameter of two slits 16 and as that of the shield. While the buttons disclosed are 2,737,972 Patented Mar. 13, 1956 preferably of the form shown and claimed in our copending application Serial No..344,382, filed March 24, 1953, other forms of snap buttons may be used since the specific form of shield is not dependent upon any particular form of fastening means.

In Fig. 1 the improved shield 10 is shown as being applied to a bonnet type valve which includes a stem S and a flange F. In this view, the shield sections 11 and 12 are transversely shifted relative to the showing in Figs. 2 and 3, which further discloses the ready adaptability of'the two like sections in forming a complete bonnet shield.

. In applying the shield to the valve V, one section is brought into position with the stern S in its aperture 15 which was entered through spreading of the material at slit '16. Thereafter, the mating section is brought into position in like manner with the stem extending through both alined apertures 15. The edges of the sections are oppositely lapped at opposite sides of the shield and finally the snap buttons 18 are forced through the alined apertures 17, as is indicated in Fig. 1.

- is to be considered as illustrative only and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the sub-joined claims. v a

What we claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a valve including a body having a top flange, a bonnet having a bottom flange and a packing gland, a gasket disposed between said flanges and a cylindrical valve stem extending from said body, through said packing gland and to an operating position thereabove, a bonnet-shield of truncated conical form including a vertical-axis downwardly and laterally flaring skirt portion in surrounding relation to said fianges and a said packing gland, and a horizontal top portion disposed above said packing gland, said shield comprising a pair of like sections having overlapping side and top edge portions with the edges of the two sections being disposed in parallel vertical planes at opposite sides of a vertical axial plane and in equally spaced relation'thereto, the horizontal top portion being disposed above said packing glandand the overlapping edge portions thereof having alined apertures of substantially the diameter of said valve stem and through which said stem extends, the said overlapping edge portions being provided with slits opening into said apertures for receiving said stern upon horizontal movement of'said sections toward said stem in the assembly thereof," wherein the lower edges of the sections surround said flanges, and means for releasably securing the overlappingedges of the skirt portion together.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said edge portions of said skirt portions are oppositely overlapped relative to the inner and outer walls of the shield.

3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said securing means comprise aligned apertures in said overlapping edge portions of said skirt portions, and snap buttons releasably received in said apertures.

' (References on following page) i References-Cited'inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Peltier Dec. 20, 1881 Hogeboom Feb. 12, 1884- Dawson Feb. 4, 1919 Pedersen Nov. 17, 1931 Burgess May; 31, 1932 Davidson Mar. 22,- 1938-- 4 Mitchell Apr. 2, 1946 Carver Nov. 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany July 3, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES Nemours and Co. (Inc.), Plastics Dept, April 1946. 

